Page 70 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

"I ken about the coin from the clan," said Fiona. This was an open secret, but by the look on Patterson's face, there was more to this.

"Aye," said Patterson. They had begun descending the stairs, but given his stooped frame, he was having trouble. Fiona waited as he shuffled down the heavy stone steps.

"But there's more," said Patterson, when they were finally at the bottom. Fiona waited patiently as he got his breath back. Once he had, he smiled. "Ye see, the treasure, the gold...that belongs tae the Duncan clan."

Fiona nodded.

"Well, he didnae give all o' it tae Laird Anderson," said the servant.

Fiona frowned. "What do ye mean? He gave it tae Anderson. That's why I was going—"

"Nay," said the servant. When Fiona looked up, she was surprised to see his face, which looked most insistent. "That's what he told Anderson, what he tells everyone. But nay. In fact, a good half o' it is sitting in the coffers o' the Greenock castle...just, och, doon here in the cellars..."

The elderly servant smiled slowly, revealing all his blackened and missing teeth. But Fiona did not see them. All she could think about was what he had just said.

For a moment, she wondered if the servant was confused, but he did not seem it. In fact, this was the first time she had seen him looking sure of anything.

"R-Really?" said Fiona, caught off-guard.

"Aye," said the servant. He glanced up the stairs, just to make sure that Fraser was not listening. "I can show ye if ye like?"

Fiona's eyes widened. The servant smiled.

"Maybe there is something ye could take tae the Anderson laird. Something red, an' precious...an' show him Fraser is nae tae be trusted..."

The Anderson castle dominated the landscape for a good twenty miles before she reached it. Shielding her eyes to the sunlight, Fiona approached the gateway to the castle hesitantly.

She had rehearsed all this in her head but still did not know what she was going to say. Somehow with a smile and a nod, she had gotten through the sentry's guard. After all, she was the acting lady of the Duncan clan, and her name was known. But the young lad on the guard had looked surprised as he waved her through.

And if she had been nervous before, that was nothing on how Fiona Duncan felt when she was shown in to see the laird. She didn't have to wait long, though.

Edan Anderson made his entrance in typical style.

"Fiona!" he greeted her as if she was an old friend or possibly even a lover. Either way, it was enough to make Fiona squirm and blush.

"Guid day, sir," said Fiona a little stiffly. She let Anderson kiss her; it would be rude not to. But she couldn't stop herself from bristling.

"Och, Marcus's wee lass," said Anderson, regarding her fondly. "I remember ye well..."

This put Fiona a little on the wrong foot. She had not been expecting the memory of her father to be invoked. Perhaps she should have.

"I..." faltered Fiona. She pushed an errant hair from her eyes. The truth was, she did not remember Anderson at all. Maybe she had met him once, she couldn't say. Now Anderson's dark gray eyes were right on her.

"As bonny as ever." Anderson smirked. He brought his large frame a little closer to inspect her. Fiona found herself avoiding his avid gaze as he watched her. There was something about his eyes that made her uncomfortable. "O' course, ye were a wee lassie when I saw ye last...well, how charming. Ye’re all grown up an’ o' marriageable age."

Briefly, she thought about his daughter—this Jonet—and wondered about his part in the arranged marriage with Clyde.

It occurred to her that Anderson could barely be trusted any more than Fraser could, but right then, he was all she had. So, forcing herself to smile, she looked at Anderson closely.

"So then, hen, what brings ye tae these parts?" he asked keenly. Beneath the laird's genial smile, Fiona could see he was watching carefully.

Fiona glanced around the darkened hall. The Anderson castle was much bigger than either hers or Clyde's. She could not help feeling a little daunted by the fancy surroundings.

All around were gleaming ornaments and furnishings. The tapestries that lined the walls were thick and plush. On the floor, a golden rug covered the majority of the chamber. It was all Fiona could do not to stare at it. Wherever it had come from, it must have cost a fortune.

"I...I've come tae ask ye something," said Fiona, still utterly distracted. Quickly, she took a sip of the drink she could not remember being given. The cool cider revived her confidence a little.

"Och!" said Anderson, a look of faux-shock on his face. "Ye've come tae ask my hand in marriage?"